TCMinutes2025January27TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE REPORT to the BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Monday, January 27, 2025
8:30 a.m.
107 NORTH KENT STREET, WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA
ATTENDEES:
Committee Members Present: Josh Ludwig Chair (Voting), Heather Lockridge (Voting),
Brandon Monk (Voting), Mollie Brannon (Voting), Robert Liero (Voting) and Donald Capps
(Voting).
Committee Members Absent: Lewis Boyer (Liaison Stephens City)
Staff Present: John Bishop, Assistant Director and Kathy Smith
ITEMS REQUIRING ACTION BY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS:
Gainesboro Road/Route 522 Intersection Project: Upon a motion made by Heather Lockridge,
seconded by Brandon Monk the Committee recommends authorizing staff to begin design of the
Route 522 (North Frederick Pike) Intersection and Frederick County Middle/Gainesboro
Elementary School campus site improvements for the total cost estimate of the design as
presented. Planning Staff and School Division Staff met with our consultant to direct the merging
of the school’s on-site needs to accommodate Gainesboro access with removal of any aspirational
items and the road improvements into a single plan set and cost estimate. Staff updated the
Committee on the total cost estimate of the design improvements, that are just over 7 million
with 5 million that has previously been budgeted for the project and the remaining funds part of
the current budget request. Staff also noted that design efforts would begin with a public meeting
with the impacted school community and neighbors.
ITEMS FOR INFORMATION ONLY:
Route 277 Speed Limit Reductions: Staff received a request from a resident on Route 277 for the
potentially lowering the speed limit to 45 mph. VDOT Staff spoke to the Committee on the speed
limit change process policy, which is acted upon at the State level. VDOT Staff have conducted
speed studies previously on the roadway and have not warrant a change. The roadway is
scheduled for another speed study and safety analysis in the future and the Committee will be
updated on the outcome.
Projects Summary: Staff gave a presentation of the upcoming projects as an update to the
Committee as well as the new Committee members. Starting with the upcoming projects without
County funding, those include Exit 313 Bridge replacement and capacity upgrades at $63,353,000,
I81 widening of Exit 313 to MM 318.5 at $479,903,000, Route 7 Access Management at
$1,238,000, Route 11/Old Charlestown Road roundabout at $6,357,000 and Route 277/Warrior
Drive turn lane improvement at $570,000. The upcoming County funded projects are Exit 317
Interchange upgrade and ramp realignment at $6,525,894 with a Ad date of FY29, Route
11/Shawnee Drive widening and Intersection improvements at $3,139,000 Ad date of FY30,
Warrior Drive Extension with Brandy Lane update at $5,127,000 Ad date of FY30, Route
522/Costello Drive Intersection at $1,430,130 Ad date of FY28, Redbud Road relocation at
$2,201,639 Ad date of FY25, Renaissance Drive Phase II at $3,623,657 that is currently underway,
Valley Mill Road pedestrian upgrades at $147,940 Ad date of FY28, Warrior Drive path at $359,770
Ad date of FY28 and Inverlee Way pedestrian upgrades at $114,135 Ad date of FY28.
SmartScale Update: At the January CTB meeting, Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment
staff presented the staff recommendations for funding of SmartScale projects for the current
application round. Staff updated the Committee on those early result as well as the process
moving forward between now and June adoption of the Six Year Improvement Program.
County Project Updates: Renaissance Drive: The County contactor work has largely stopped on
site since having to wait on CSX installation of the crossing itself which must be completed by their
contractors per the CSX requirements. The expected date has been pushed back by CSX several
times and is currently March. Upon completion of the crossing installation, the County
contractors will be able to complete tie ins and other ancillary work which should be able to be
completes within 90 days of CSX completing their work.
Route 37 (Eastern Frederick Transportation) Study: Route 37 Eastern Frederick Transportation
study was approved at the Board of Supervisor’s January 22 meeting.
Other: Contractors’ Update: Staff have chosen on-call firms for contractors for professional
studies and have executed 3 of 4 contracts.
Transit Feasibility Update: Staff have met with the City of Winchester representatives to discuss
transit to serve areas within the County. The Committee will be updated on extending the reach
of a transportation service to serve our residents as more meeting with the city on alternative
options are in the future.
Transportation Forum: The Committee recommended that Staff to continuing holding the County
Transportation forum in the fall.